U.S. presidential election, 1836

Summary

The election of 1836 is predominately remembered for three reasons: it was the last election until 1988 to result in the elevation of an incumbent Vice President to the nation's highest office, it was also the only race in which a major political party (the Whigs) intentionally ran several presidential candidates, adopting a regionally based strategy in hopes of defeating Democratic standard-bearer Martin Van Buren in their respective areas.

Finally, the election is the first (and to date only) time when a candidate for Vice President failed to receive a majority of the electoral votes after Virginia's electors refused to vote for Van Buren's running mate, Richard Mentor Johnson. Johnson was ultimately elected by the United States Senate, receiving 33 votes to Francis P. Granger's 17.

Election Results

For More Information

President of the United States, U.S. presidential election, 1836, History of the United States (1776-1865)

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